Xiao Jietian withdrew several lustrous medicinal pills and placed them gently into Zi Yan's mouth.
Zi Yan swallowed them whole, then chewed thoughtfully, her delicate brows furrowing in concentration. "You're not talking about these, are you? Still… they really are different from before. There's an unfamiliar sweetness lingering on the tongue. Delicious!"
Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she savored the taste, clearly delighted.
As for Xiao Jietian's earlier lectures on proper cultivation, they had already vanished from her mind the moment the pills touched her lips. She was, after all, still the one and only Zi Yan—the unrivaled number one under the heavens.
"Where did you snatch this peach tree from?" Zi Yan suddenly pointed at the ancient tree before them, her gaze sharp.
Her perception of heavenly treasures was unparalleled among magical beasts. With a single glance she could tell this peach tree was no ordinary plant.
"I obtained it through perfectly legitimate channels," Xiao Jietian replied, reaching out to pinch her soft cheek. "What do you mean 'snatch'? I am no bandit. I am a very reasonable man."
"I don't believe you," Zi Yan shook her head vigorously, twisting free from his mischievous fingers. "You never do anything proper!"
Not far away, Han Xue and Hu Jia—who were still sparring—watched the exchange with eyes full of envy, inwardly wishing they could trade places with the little dragoness.
Xiao Jietian smiled and began explaining the origins of the peach tree. Zi Yan listened with rapt attention, practically drooling as visions of fragrant peach gum and sweet, juicy peaches flooded her mind.
"Were those pills you just fed me refined from this tree's peach gum?" she asked, drifting closer. The moment she spotted several fresh, glistening droplets of gum still forming on the branches, she could no longer restrain herself. Leaning forward, she bit straight into one.
Xiao Jietian was stunned for a heartbeat, then burst into helpless laughter. As expected of Zi Yan—she never played by any rules.
"Ptooey! Ptooey! It's not tasty at all! It's all sticky!" Zi Yan frantically wiped her mouth, yet the more she rubbed, the more the translucent gum spread across her cheeks like mischievous glue.
"Hahaha! Serves you right for being so greedy," Xiao Jietian laughed heartily. Even Han Xue and Hu Jia in the distance could not hold back their snickers, covering their mouths with delicate hands.
Zi Yan puffed out her cheeks. "Of course I knew it would be sticky! I was simply tasting the original, unrefined flavor of the ingredient, hmph!"
She planted her hands on her hips and declared it with utmost seriousness, looking every bit the proud little expert.
"Ah, yes, yes. You are absolutely right," Xiao Jietian conceded with a wave of his hand. With a gentle surge of Dou Qi, he drew her small body straight into his arms and carefully cleansed the stubborn peach gum from her face.
"Hmph!!" Zi Yan crossed her arms, maintaining an arrogant expression even as she secretly basked in his tender care.
Once she was clean, Xiao Jietian spoke softly. "We are currently in the Southern Domain of the Central Region. The Beast Region lies directly south of the Southern Region. Now that you have emerged from seclusion, do you wish to venture out?"
Zi Yan understood his meaning instantly. He had warned her long ago: the moment she set foot in the Central Province, the Void Ancient Dragon Clan would possess means to sense and track her presence.
"I want to go out!" she nodded solemnly. She had made this decision long ago. Though reluctant to leave everyone behind, she believed that once she returned to her clan and received proper training, she could one day stand beside Xiao Jietian and protect them all. Perhaps she would even uncover the true reason behind her unusual growth.
She was truly tired of this tiny body.
"Very well. We shall depart tomorrow," Xiao Jietian said gently, stroking her silky purple hair. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we return."
Zi Yan nodded with firm determination.
The two sat together beneath the peach tree, speaking in low, intimate voices. Before long, Hu Jia and Han Xue joined them. Drawing upon the social grace she had honed during her time with the caravan, Han Xue quickly befriended Zi Yan.
The peach tree possessed a wondrous effect—it could calm the mind and dispel mental fatigue. After chatting for a while, the four of them naturally sat cross-legged beneath its branches and began cultivating.
By evening, Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng returned from their outing, carrying little Xiao Ze between them. The Little Fairy Doctor and Han Yue, who had been handling affairs for Boundless Heaven Hall, also arrived. The others remained in seclusion and had yet to emerge.
The moment the girls saw Zi Yan, their faces bloomed with joy. The Little Fairy Doctor reached out and lovingly stroked the little girl's head. "Zi Yan, you've finally come out! I never imagined you would reach mid-sixth rank already. Truly impressive!"
A mid-sixth-rank magical beast could already contend with peak Dou Huangs and even clash with ordinary Dou Zongs. Once she received the Void Ancient Dragon Clan's specialized training, her ability to fight across realms would multiply several times over. Their greatest strengths lay in mastery of space and unparalleled physical power—yet at present, Zi Yan only knew how to rely on raw brute force.
"Of course!" Zi Yan replied, putting on an exaggerated expression of hardship. "I cultivated so hard it was exhausting and boring the entire time!"
Xiao Jietian nearly laughed out loud. The "exhausting" part was irrelevant; the true complaint lay in the word "boring." He had secretly observed her training method countless times: she would devour a mountain of pills, spin a cocoon, and fall fast asleep.
The girls chatted warmly beneath the peach blossoms, filling the air with laughter and sisterly affection. Meanwhile, Xiao Jietian guided Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng in practicing the Moonlight Soul Refining Art, especially strict with Xiao Ling. As a future alchemist, her soul force was of paramount importance.
Little Xiao Ze lay in his crib, happily playing with his toys. He would occasionally glance at his mother and the others, then at his father and sisters. Whenever he saw his elder sister being scolded, he let out bursts of clear, delighted laughter.
Hearing that laughter, Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng exchanged secret glances: "He dares laugh at his sister? As expected… little brothers must be beaten early!"
The young Xiao Ze, blissfully unaware of the danger he had just invited, continued giggling innocently.
Now that everyone understood the peach tree's benefits and Xiao Jietian's emphasis on soul cultivation, they made it a daily habit to meditate beneath its branches. Xiao Jietian was never stingy with his women; he had already imparted the complete Moonlight Soul Refining Art to them all. Among them, Medusa's soul force was the strongest—likely due to the two companion soul evolutions she had undergone.
…
"Is this the Central Province?" Zi Yan's eyes sparkled with unrestrained curiosity. Her little nostrils flared as she continuously inhaled the surrounding air, as if trying to absorb every trace of the Central Province's aura into her body.
"As expected of the Central Province—the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is several times richer than in the Black-Corner Region. No wonder so many experts flock here."
The two stood not far from the place where Xiao Jietian had once slain Old Freak Zhaixing.
"Indeed. The resources here far surpass those of the Northwest Continent. There are countless relics of ancient experts and forgotten ruins scattered across the land."
"Relics?" Zi Yan's eyes instantly lit up. "Does that mean there are tons of medicinal ingredients? Slurp~"
The mere mention of resources and ruins made her think only of rare herbs, everything else fading into the background.
Seeing her obsessive reaction, Xiao Jietian recalled how she had once forced Xiong Zhan to gather nearly every medicinal ingredient in the entire Pill Realm.
"I always feel like you're secretly laughing at me!!" Zi Yan looked up at him suspiciously.
"I didn't. I'm not. Don't talk nonsense!" Xiao Jietian denied it three times in rapid succession.
Zi Yan's eyes narrowed. One hundred percent certain now.
With a leap, she jumped onto him and grabbed his face with both hands.
While Xiao Jietian and Zi Yan were playfully bickering, far away in an endless void at the southernmost edge of the Central Region's Southern Domain…